Bliss Center under Repair and Renovation for Re-Emergence of Creative Arts
If you’ve traversed Southern Foreshore in Belize City this week, you would have noticed that the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts is getting a facelift. There is a new paint job, and men are around the building doing some work. News Five’s Duane Moody gets a closer look at what’s happening and as he found out, the work on the Bliss is more than just cosmetic.
Duane Moody, Reporting
That was back in 2003, when what was known as the Bliss Institute was partially demolished and transformed into the state of the art Bliss Center for the Performing Arts. Since its grand gala opening in 2004, it has been the stage for iconic performances; legends such as Andy Palacio, Leila Vernon, the Belize National Dance Company – not to mention creatives in the visual arts. Almost two decades later, works are once again happening at the Bliss.
Kim Vasquez
Kim Vasquez, Senior Program Officer, Institute of Creative Arts
“It is repairs and renovation that is from the inside out. We did have some issues at the Bliss for a number of years with leaks on the roof and along with that, we had some other issues.”
But according to Senior Program Officer Kim Vasquez, it’s deeper than just a facelift. And while the dance studio is also being redone, it ties into formal agreements signed with dance companies.
Kim Vasquez
“We have four resident dance companies here at the Bliss and of course, all dancers and all artists are always welcome to call the Bliss their home. But we have four of them permanently residing here. We have the Belize National Dance Company of course, Belize Afro Dance Formation (formerly Precision ‘n’ Style), we have Ugundani Garifuna Dance Group and we have Modern Dance Movement. And along with each one of those, we have children and adults dancing. So dance is very much a part of the family here at I.C.A., at the Bliss. And so last year, we signed a formal working relation with the four of them to recommit to dance because we want it to coincide. We want the renovations and the repairs to also be about relationships and the re-emergence of arts.”
While activities have been ongoing and the Institute of Creative Arts has not been closed, the cultural and creative sector has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Artists – for the most part – have sought jobs in other sectors, including B.P.O.s. Vasquez says that they are working on new vibrant programs at the Bliss in March.
Kim Vasquez
“What we are hoping to do is to have a call to return to let us see what we can do in terms of business development training, in terms of opportunities for creative expression. And the first thing that we want to do – as I said, we are hoping that the repairs will be done in March – and as you know March is Women’s Month and one of the main activities that we would have here annually is Women in Art – it was one of our most vibrant programs. And so we are hoping that that would be the activity and the event that will culminate or would coincide with the finishing of the repairs. The Belisle Art Gallery – nothing has happened there since 2014. It was in a state of disrepair and it was shuttered for all intents and purposes and so we have not had an art exhibit here for many years. And so we are excited to think about having an art exhibit here in March. So the dance companies are planning a dance show for the end of March, we have Women in Art, there will be an art exhibit component, we hope to have the performing arts component to that as well. And so yes, we are focusing on this whole theme of re-emergence.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
